Al-Jazeera journalists convicted in EgyptAugust 29, 2015 - 16:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Three al-Jazeera journalists convicted in Egypt of "spreading false news" have been sentenced to three years in prison at their retrial in Cairo, BBC News reports. Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict. Australian Peter Greste was deported back to Australia earlier this year and was on trial again in absentia. The three are accused of aiding the banned Muslim Brotherhood group but they strenuously deny the allegations. The three journalists were originally sentenced in July 2014, with Greste and Fahmy receiving seven years and Mohamed getting 10 years. But their convictions were overturned in January this year and they were freed in February to await retrial. Giving the verdict on Saturday, August 29, judge Hassan Farid said the three men were not registered journalists and had been operating from a Cairo hotel without a licence. He handed three-year sentences to Greste and Fahmy but gave Mohamed an additional six months. It is unclear how long Fahmy and Mohamed will now serve. They were in prison for about a year before being freed. Lawyers for the three journalists are expected to appeal the decision. According to BBC, the verdict came as a shock to a room packed full of Egyptian and foreign journalists. The expectation was that the journalists would be found guilty, but that they would be given a lesser sentence and be allowed to walk free. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |